Securing admission to postgraduate (PG) programs remains a significant challenge for graduate students, especially in the districts of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, and Begusarai, all affiliated with Lalit Narayan Mithila University (LNMU) in Bihar. These districts, home to over 2 lakh graduates annually, are faced with a stark mismatch between the number of graduates and the limited availability of PG seats. There are only 14,460 PG seats available across the 24 affiliated colleges in these districts, which leads to intense competition for admission.
One of the major concerns is the lack of PG courses at Women’s College in Samastipur, the only women’s institution in the district. Despite submitting proposals multiple times, the college has not been granted permission to offer PG courses, creating significant barriers for female students in the region. This issue raises questions about the state’s commitment to women’s empowerment, as it directly impacts educational opportunities for women in Samastipur.
In Samastipur, the availability of PG seats is relatively limited with 1,080 seats at Samastipur College, 500 seats at BRB College, and 480 seats at RB College in Dalsinghsarai, totaling 2,060 seats. However, RB College has not been granted approval to offer PG courses in certain subjects, further narrowing the options for students. This situation calls for immediate attention from the state government to increase the number of available seats and accommodate the growing demand for PG education.
Professor Sanjay Kumar Chaudhary, Vice Chancellor of Lalit Narayan Mithila University, has explained that the university has passed proposals to introduce PG courses at six colleges across Samastipur, Begusarai, and Madhubani, including Women’s College Samastipur and RB College Dalsinghsarai. These proposals were submitted to the Bihar State Education Department long ago, and the university is currently awaiting approval from the state government. Once approved, the new PG programs are expected to launch promptly.
Professor Sunita Singh, Principal of Women’s College Samastipur, emphasized the importance of PG courses for the 4,000 female students who graduate from the college each year. The college has sent its proposal for PG courses to the university three times, but so far, permission has not been granted. This leaves many students, particularly from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with limited options to continue their education beyond graduation.
The state government must take swift action to approve these proposals and expand the availability of PG courses in these districts, especially for female students who face additional barriers to further education. The delay in granting permission for PG courses at Women’s College Samastipur highlights the urgent need for improved access to higher education and the empowerment of women in the region.
